Baxter - BT767 B28 1662

( 7~) natutes princip/u. It is the Diligent feekfr J ·of God that he will r:ward. And yet dare a·aeChly negligent finner, reproach the di– ltgcnt/eekjng of God, and take it for a needlefs t~ing, and fay, What needs all thuado? Are not: thefe the Atheifts feconds; even J1~Xt to them that deny that there is any Go4, or th~tr blajpheme l11m .? And indet>d, if he be not worthy of all the Love and ferv1ce that thou carifl giv~ him,he is not the true God! Confider therefore the ttndency of thy words, and tremble. ~efl.6. Both not that wretchfet up the ~efo and the worldahove the Lord, that tbink.J not moft ofhis thoughts, and ct~res, and words, .t'fndtime, and !abourfor the world to be too m1tch ado, and Jet think._s lefs for Godanaheaven to be too much? And dofl: thou think in .thy .confcience that the fldh is better worthy of thyLeve, and care, and labour, then the Lord? or that earth will prove a betrer re– ward ro thee then Heaven ? Who , thinkdl thou , will have the better bargain in the end? The fool that laid up richu for himfelf, and wa; not rich to God and fhalllofe all at once that he fo much . va.lued,and fo carefully fought, ( Luk_e 12. 20, 21.) or he that laid up his treafurc z"n HePZven, and there fer his heart, and fought for the never fading Crown? .iWatth. 6. 20, 2 r, 33. and count– ed all tU lo{J anddunfl fort he excellent k_nowledgc of {efm Chrif/, Phit. 3. 8. Do you 0 think that there is any thing more worth your care, and time, and labour, or can you more profitably lAy it Out~ ~e£1:. 7· Have you notimmortal'{ouls to fave or lofe ? And are not your ladies for their fervice ? and to be ufed and ruled by them ? And fhould not your fouls then have more of your care and diligence, then corruptible fldh that mufl: turn to din? Qyefi. 8. Dare anyone o{you fay that you are wifer then the All– k..nowing God ? Is not: thy wifdom lefs to his , then a glow-wo-rms light is to the Sun? And bath not God rilofi plainly and frequent· Jy in his Word commanded thee a holy life ? Yea every part and pa.rcell of ir, is nothingelfebut the obeying of thMWord : Fo: if it be riot prefcribedby the Lord, it is not Holinefs, nor that whtch I am pleading for. And when theliving God bath told the world .. his mind andwill, {hall a finful man fiand up and fay, I am wifer then my Mak!r? I k.,.now abetter wa] then this? VVhat need there all thu ftir for HeaveN? What dofl: thou lefs then thus blaf– phem~, and fet up thy folly abov~ ~he ~i!dom of the Lord, ·· - · - · · ··- when

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